The Meadows School of the Arts, formally established in 1969 at SMU in Dallas, has achieved prominence as one of the foremost arts education institutions in the United States. Learn more about SMU Meadows

Meadows serves the public as a significant cultural center by presenting more than 400 events annually for the Dallas community and surrounding region. Read more about upcoming events and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, "This Week at Meadows".

The Meadows School of the Arts, formally established in 1969 at SMU in Dallas, has achieved prominence as one of the foremost arts education institutions in the United States. Learn more about SMU Meadows

Meadows serves the public as a significant cultural center by presenting more than 400 events annually for the Dallas community and surrounding region. Read more about upcoming events and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, "This Week at Meadows".

Two Meadows Voice Students to Perform with DSO

John Hendricks and Paul Kroeger to sing in Beethoven’s Fidelio, May 11 and 13

Meadows graduate voice student John Hendricks and junior Paul Kroeger have been chosen by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra to perform in the DSO’s production of Beethoven’s Fidelio, May 11 and 13.

In February, DSO artistic director Aldert Vermeulen and conductor Jaap van Zweden heard Hendricks sing during the dress rehearsal for the Meadows Opera production of Le Nozze di Figaro. Impressed, they offered him the chance to sing the part of the second prisoner in the Fidelio prisoners’ chorus. A month later, Kroeger performed in a Meadows master class with Vermeulen and Dr. Paul Phillips, and Vermeulen approached Kroeger about singing the tenor solo during the prisoners’ chorus.

“Although my solo is less than a minute long, I am still so excited about this opportunity,” Kroeger said. “When I was growing up, the DSO was the gold standard in my community for orchestra. It’s really cool to be able to sing with the DSO now.”

The two-week rehearsal process prior to the performance will be short, and expose Hendricks and Kroeger to the quick preparation required in the professional world. Though the Meadows Symphony Orchestra and Meadows Wind Ensemble usually rehearse for only two weeks prior to a performance, voice students rarely have to put shows together quite so quickly.

John Hendricks

Kroeger notes that without Meadows, this opportunity never would have come to be. “Meadows has consistently proven to have great connections,” he says. “This is a perfect example of the benefits those faculty connections can provide for students here.”

“Pursue every opportunity whole-heartedly,” says Hendricks. “Work hard and always give one hundred percent regardless of the size or importance of the job.”

John Hendricks studies with Dale Dietert and is graduating with a Master of Music degree in voice performance this May. Paul Kroeger studies with Virginia Dupuy and is expected to graduate in May 2013.